Portsmouth football team looks to remain unbeaten

If form holds this weekend, there will be a much-hyped football game played at Portsmouth High School next Friday night.

Roger Brown

If form holds this weekend, there will be a much-hyped football game played at Portsmouth High School next Friday night.

Portsmouth will bring a 3-0 record into Saturday's Division III contest at Goffstown (1-2 overall, 1-1 in Division III). If Portsmouth can win that contest, and Souhegan (3-0, 2-0) can beat Bedford (0-3) at home tonight, the Clippers and Sabers will be battling for at least a share of first place when they meet next weekend.

"I haven't heard the Souhegan game mentioned at all, other than by the coaches a little bit," Portsmouth coach Bill Murphy said. "We've played three games and we have another one this weekend. Then we'll worry about Souhegan."

Murphy said senior running back/linebacker Keegan Pafford hasn't practiced this week and isn't expected to play against Goffstown. Pafford suffered an ankle injury during Portsmouth's 27-0 victory over Bedford two weeks ago.

"We don't want to rush him," Murphy said. "We need him for later."

Pafford's absence may mean the Clippers will once again rely on a passing game that has been very effective this season. Starting quarterback Mike Fransoso has thrown for five TD passes even though he did not play against Bedford because of a shoulder injury. Backup QB Nate Jones has thrown for three TDs and also caught a TD pass. Split end Mike Montville has five TD catches, including three in last Friday's 36-26 triumph over Con-Val.

"I'm surprised that we have two quarterbacks doing so well," Murphy said. "Montville has been outstanding. We really wanted to give (the passing game) a chance, but our running game hasn't been too bad either. (Gallagher) Hogan has had two 100-yard games."

Goffstown is running the Straight-T and Jake Staffiere leads the team in rushing (21 carries for 162 yards) and receiving (two receptions for 23 yards).

The Grizzlies, who nearly made the Division II playoffs last season, opened with losses to Souhegan (41-0) and Hanover (28-13), but picked up a 22-14 victory over Hollis-Brookline on Saturday.

"We saw them against Hollis-Brookline and they were the dominant team in that game," Murphy said. "They don't really have an explosive attack. I'm sure they'll try to grind it out against us."

Pointless exercise

Exeter (3-0 overall, 2-0 in Division II) hasn't surrendered a point since the third quarter of its 21-20 season-opening victory over Nashua South — a span of nine quarters. Nashua South's final points in that game came when it returned an Exeter fumble for a touchdown.

The Blue Hawks will be looking to extend that scoreless streak when they face rival Winnacunnet (0-3, 0-2) on Saturday (1:30 p.m.) in Exeter.

"They're just such a very good defensive team," Winnacunnet coach Ron Auffant said. "They don't make a lot of mistakes. To score a lot of points against them ...; it's not easy.

"The year we won the championship (2000) they beat us 19-7 during the regular season, and then we won the championship game 10-9. We scored 17 points against them in two games — and we were a championship team. They're just very, very sound."

Both Auffant and Exeter coach Bill Ball said playing with emotion, although important, can be overrated in a game like this.

"After the opening kickoff it comes down to execution," Ball said. "Offensively we still have a long ways to go. We're putting the ball on the ground too much. We have to mature in the (offensive) backfield."

Road test

Marshwood (2-1) will have its hands full when it travels to Saco, Maine, for a Western Maine Class A matchup with Thornton Academy (3-0) on Saturday (1:30 p.m.).

Thornton leads all Western Maine Class A teams in points scored (139) and points allowed (12). The Golden Trojans own victories over Sanford (49-6), Noble (55-0) and Scarborough (35-6).

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